Taking my first look at a 986 S today

[Mattman42]

10 minutes ago, Stewart_H said:

 

'Not wanting to shell out' and 'not being able to shell out' are completed different but I appreciate what you're saying 👍  I'm trying to go in with my eyes open and have only just started my search. Clearly I have a lot to learn which is why I'm here and I welcome all opinions   The car I viewed yesterday was a little over budget (£5350) but evidently needed quite a bit of immediate attention which put it way over what I am currently willing to spend.  If £4.5k-£5k isn't enough to get me in to a decent early Boxster to use occasionally for fun then I will either have to wait a little longer OR start looking at an alternative i.e. a 3.0 BMW Z4.

this thread is useless without the link to the car - we need to review and diesect, and provide our immense internet of knowledge based on a few grainy photos to help you in your mission!

 

[Stewart_H]

4 minutes ago, Mattman42 said:

this thread is useless without the link to the car - we need to review and diesect, and provide our immense internet of knowledge based on a few grainy photos to help you in your mission!

 

 

Have I not given enough clues away already?

 

[Mattman42]

13 minutes ago, Stewart_H said:

 

Have I not given enough clues away already?

 

This one?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201811252739656?onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&postcode=rg225ls&price-to=5500&sort=distance&radius=1500&make=PORSCHE&model=BOXSTER&advertising-location=at_cars&page=1

 

Tiptronic version - but looks good and the dealer generally has very nice stock:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201811082251183?postcode=rg225ls&price-to=5500&advertising-location=at_cars&sort=distance&radius=1500&make=PORSCHE&model=BOXSTER&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&page=1

 

 

[Stewart_H]

4 minutes ago, Mattman42 said:

This one?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201811252739656?onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&postcode=rg225ls&price-to=5500&sort=distance&radius=1500&make=PORSCHE&model=BOXSTER&advertising-location=at_cars&page=1

 

Tiptronic version - but looks good and the dealer generally has very nice stock:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201811082251183?postcode=rg225ls&price-to=5500&advertising-location=at_cars&sort=distance&radius=1500&make=PORSCHE&model=BOXSTER&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&page=1

 

 

 

One of them is correct 😉

[Menoporsche]

Stewart I hope you saw this thread?  A 5k car is quite feasible, just depends on your level of expectations.

http://www.BoXa.net/forum/topic/74190-sub-£35k-boxsters-share-your-bargain-buys/

[PaulQ]

1 hour ago, Scubaregs said:

5K is not a big budget to allow you to get a good car imho. Also the fact that you don't want to shell out for a service as soon as you buy the car suggests that you have no budget for after buying.

5k is plenty if you don't mind a slightly higher mileage one. 

Plenty on here, including myself have spent a lot less, and ended up with decent cars. 

[james_ly]

I wouldn't rule out a 2.7... I owned a 3.2 for a year, now have a 2.7 an the speed difference is not that noticable (I know people with slow cars always say that, but neither are a rocketship these days!)

[PaulQ]

Don't rule out the 2.5 either. 

[toplad]

10 hours ago, Stewart_H said:

 

'Not wanting to shell out' and 'not being able to shell out' are completed different but I appreciate what you're saying 👍  I'm trying to go in with my eyes open and have only just started my search. Clearly I have a lot to learn which is why I'm here and I welcome all opinions   The car I viewed yesterday was a little over budget (£5350) but evidently needed quite a bit of immediate attention which put it way over what I am currently willing to spend.  If £4.5k-£5k isn't enough to get me in to a decent early Boxster to use occasionally for fun then I will either have to wait a little longer OR start looking at an alternative i.e. a 3.0 BMW Z4.

There is nothing wrong with not wanting to pay for service that should have been done.

It also indicates the car hasn't been looked after properly and based on what you've said you have done the right thing. 

There's are loads of 5k Boxsters on the market, plenty of them need a bit of money spending on them. 

I would try and buy one from a member on here and you can actually have some idea what has been replaced/checked 

What part of the country are you in? Perhaps you could check over a good'un and get a bit of an idea 

[zadocbrown]

Definitely don't rule out the 2.7 unless you have tried already. I drove a 2.7 and a couple of 3.2s back to back, same price, and went for the 2.7. Maybe even 2.5 worth considering, especially at this price range. At the least it will give more cars to choose from, and they all give the proper Porsche experience I think.

[Stewart_H]

19 minutes ago, toplad said:

There is nothing wrong with not wanting to pay for service that should have been done.

It also indicates the car hasn't been looked after properly and based on what you've said you have done the right thing. 

There's are loads of 5k Boxsters on the market, plenty of them need a bit of money spending on them. 

I would try and buy one from a member on here and you can actually have some idea what has been replaced/checked 

What part of the country are you in? Perhaps you could check over a good'un and get a bit of an idea 

Thank you 👍🏻 I live in Yateley, Hampshire and would love to look at a 'good un' so I know what to look for 🙂

[Stewart_H]

15 minutes ago, zadocbrown said:

Definitely don't rule out the 2.7 unless you have tried already. I drove a 2.7 and a couple of 3.2s back to back, same price, and went for the 2.7. Maybe even 2.5 worth considering, especially at this price range. At the least it will give more cars to choose from, and they all give the proper Porsche experience I think.

Thanks for the advice, I haven't ruled any models out. I've only looked at one and didn't drive it as I wasn't going to buy it after checking it over.

[edc]

If you're not Inna rush to buy get to one of the one of the Blackbushe meets or one of the other locally organised meets. Blackbushe tends to have a high turnout. At the entry price you will have to do the odd DIY and probably have to plan in over the first couple of years the maintenance. Clonky suspension doesn't make the car undriveable but it won't handle anywhere near as good and isn't my idea of fun. 

[the baron]

On 12/6/2018 at 1:51 PM, PaulQ said:

Don't rule out the 2.5 either. 

I will second that, seem to be more robust due to duel row ims, plus general consensus is they are the sweetest engine, still loads of fun, but any modern day hot hatch will trounce any of the earlier Boxster regardless of engine size, the handling is what makes these cars special and that’s the same no matter what model you opt for.

[Nickyg63]

i think you can get an honest car for your budget, just hold out! i had the same budget and bought a decent bit of kit. i have jobs to sort but what 15yr old car doesn't?

[Mike G]

I've had one Z4 and 4 boxsters , nuff said ?

[Jerakeen]

On 12/6/2018 at 10:25 PM, Stewart_H said:

Thank you 👍🏻 I live in Yateley, Hampshire and would love to look at a 'good un' so I know what to look for 🙂

We looked at a Z4 before we chose our Boxster S. It was a nice quick car but the electric power steering was soulless. No feedback to speak of. It felt like playing a computer game without a force feedback wheel. We went from there straight to another dealer who had a Boxster and fell in love with that. The Boxster gives excellent feedback from the wheel and is so involving to drive. 

[Stewart_H]

6 minutes ago, Jerakeen said:

We looked at a Z4 before we chose our Boxster S. It was a nice quick car but the electric power steering was soulless. No feedback to speak of. It felt like playing a computer game without a force feedback wheel. We went from there straight to another dealer who had a Boxster and fell in love with that. The Boxster gives excellent feedback from the wheel and is so involving to drive. 

 

Thanks for the comment 👍 I believe I'm firmly in the Boxster camp now, I just need to find a nice one!

 

[allatsea]

On 12/6/2018 at 12:43 PM, Menoporsche said:

Stewart I hope you saw this thread?  A 5k car is quite feasible, just depends on your level of expectations.

http://www.BoXa.net/forum/topic/74190-sub-£35k-boxsters-share-your-bargain-buys/

I was just about to post as @Menoporsche has above.

Worth a read, if only to understand some of the pitfalls, I went from buying on day one, to a garage on day two and a near £5K bill.....Admittedly, it didn't all need doing immediately, and I choose to do it, but if you buy at that price that you are thinking, there will be jobs that need doing.

As has been mentioned above, the difference between driving one with the suspension sorted and one which clonks over every pothole is night and day.

But it's absolutely worth it! Noticing your other cars, I had a new BMW 430d Cab that I used for commuting when I brought mine and the Box S was (is) a much more fun, exhilarating drive.

You won't regret it.

I'm your side of Woking, Waze says 9 miles away, if you want to come and have a look around one, let me know.

AaS

[Stewart_H]

On 12/8/2018 at 9:10 PM, Mike G said:

I've had one Z4 and 4 boxsters , nuff said ?

Ah, someone who can offer a true comparison then 🙂 What are the pros and cons? I presume the Z4 was cheaper to run?

[Stewart_H]

On 12/14/2018 at 4:23 PM, allatsea said:

I was just about to post as @Menoporsche has above.

Worth a read, if only to understand some of the pitfalls, I went from buying on day one, to a garage on day two and a near £5K bill.....Admittedly, it didn't all need doing immediately, and I choose to do it, but if you buy at that price that you are thinking, there will be jobs that need doing.

As has been mentioned above, the difference between driving one with the suspension sorted and one which clonks over every pothole is night and day.

But it's absolutely worth it! Noticing your other cars, I had a new BMW 430d Cab that I used for commuting when I brought mine and the Box S was (is) a much more fun, exhilarating drive.

You won't regret it.

I'm your side of Woking, Waze says 9 miles away, if you want to come and have a look around one, let me know.

AaS

Wow! What an amazing offer - thank you. I'd love to come and see your car to give me an idea on what to look for etc. I'm having a little wobble at the moment regarding potential annual running costs (up to 3k miles a year). I'm looking at one as a 3rd car for some roadster fun rather than something that is continually requiring specialist attention. I'm not sure I could take the ear ache from Mrs H if the 'fun', occasional car is costing a fortune! 😁

[PaulQ]

Can you do any of your own spannering? If not then your probably looking at spending 1 to 2k per year for servicing & maintenance for any 986.

Find someone who knows their way around the cars, or getting a pre purchase inspection done should prevent any immediate big bills. 

[Menoporsche]

I said it above. Be realistic on your expectations for a 16 yr old premium sports car at that market price segment. We are enthusiasts and most won’t stand for second best, hence the need to renew many parts at a certain cost. But some here, on the thread I mentioned, have spent 5k or less, minimum on maintenance (minimum cost does not have to mean minimum quality), and have a great time. Speak to them. Get a 2.7 so you don’t pay the  premium for the 3.2, ignore that the aircon doesn’t work, the wheels are scratched and the suspension squeaks, drive within the limits of the tyres it comes with and don’t insist on Michelins but be happy with Hankook to replace them... and buy lots of Jaffa cakes so Patt can help you change your rads when they leak and your cracked coil packs. And don’t drive in the wet like you would in the dry. 

[Stewart_H]

Thanks for the great advice so far chaps - keep it coming 👍 My main concern is that I'm going to do reasonably low yearly miles (2k-3k) and may have to pay up to £2k a year on top of fuel, tax and Insurance (Insurance is cheaper than I expected).  I'm happy to buy good tyres and replace brakes etc. as and when required.  It's the potential unexpected big bills which would make me and the Mrs unhappy and possibly take some enjoyment away.  I always assumed the Boxster would be pretty tough and reliable and most major issues would have been fixed or unlikely to occur now, am I wrong?  So, do early 986s HAVE to be serviced every 12months?  (please don't take that the wrong way, I'm not a no service kind of guy).  Do the facelift models have the same service schedule?  If so, I could probably raise my purchase budget a little but that would mean my maintenance kitty is reduced.  The Z4 is still an option for me   Can anyone convince me otherwise?

 

[Menoporsche]

6 minutes ago, Stewart_H said:

and most major issues would have been fixed

I think this is the key - buy one that someone else has clearly looked after, rather than one that someone is offloading, and you'll save a good few thousand.